Sheathed Duodenoscope

ABSTRACT

A sheathed endoscope, includes: an endoscope and a disposable component. The disposable compartment protects the inner and outer surfaces of the endoscope. The disposable compartment includes: a cap of endoscope tip in the distal end of endoscope, a disposable tube for biopsy forceps, and an outside sheath capsule for endoscope shaft. The tip cap connects the sheath capsule and the disposable tube for biopsy forceps. There are multiple windows set on the lateral side of endoscope tip, wherein pills containing transparent fluid are placed somewhere in between of the tip cap and the distal end of endoscope. The pills will be crushed by co-fraction of the tip cap and the distal end of endoscope, to release the transparent fluid to fill in the space formed between the tip cap and the distal end of the endoscope. This disposable sheath compartment in the invention will cover all surfaces of the endoscope with disposable material, preventing contaminations on endoscope during endoscopy, meanwhile there is anti-glaring design, to prevent producing of glaring in the space formed between the tip cap and the distal end of endoscope.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

An invention in the field of medical device, to be specified, a sheathed endoscope.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Duodenoscope is widely used in the diagnosis and treatments of diseases in liver, gall bladder and pancreas, especially as an essential and irreplaceable device for the procedure of Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ERCP and minimally invasive surgery. However, inadequate disinfection of duodenoscopes has been a top medical hazards. Autoclave cannot be applied due to the intolerance of the charge-coupled device CCD—a component material of endoscope, to high temperature and pressure. In the operation part, steel wire was used to control the forceps elevator to lift up and down, and the structure is quite complicated with wire leading orifices. The disinfection is inadequate due to disinfection limitations. This patented duodenoscope has even more complicated structure inside and carries more risks than common duodenoscope.

To use disposable material covering the endoscope is the most reliable way to prevent infections of endoscopes, eg. in a Chinese patent 201510461920.8 (application date: Jul. 31, 2015): To use a disposable consumable cover the endoscope to seperate all contacting surfaces between patients and endoscope. However, it resulted in compromised image quality due to that stray light is produced as there are gaps between the distal end of endoscope and covering end cap. Based on this patent, we further modified the structure to solve the problem brought by stray light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A sheathed endoscope, of which the basic principles are to use sterile disposable consumable material to protect the endoscopes which cannot be autoclaved, through covering all contaminated surfaces and potential exposed areas of endoscopes. Furthermore, this invention also solves the problem of stray light with an anti-stray light design on both of the end cap and the distal end of endoscopes.

TECHNIQUES OF THE INVENTION

An endoscope with sheath, comprising an endoscope and a disposable component, wherein an inner surface and an outer surface of the endoscope are protected by the disposable component, and the disposable component comprises an end cap that covers a distal end portion of a shaft of the endoscope, characterized by: a plurality of windows being provided on a side of the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope, capsule filled with transparent liquid being provided in between the end cap and the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope, the capsule becoming broken under a cooperative action of the end cap and the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope, after the capsule being broken, the transparent liquid contained in the capsule filling a space between the end cap and the plurality of windows located in the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope.

The disposable component comprises the end cap, a cuff and a disposable biopsy channel, wherein the end cap is covered on the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope, the disposable biopsy channel is disposed within the endoscope, the cuff is disposed outside of the endoscope and the cuff is connected to the disposable biopsy channel by way of the end cap. An elongated slot is provided on a side of the end cap, wherein the elongated slot is in a shape consistent with a shape of a surgical channel on the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope, a soft connector is disposed in the elongated slot, an outer edge of a large opening of the soft connector is sealingly bonded to an inner side of the elongated slot on the end cap, and a small opening of the soft connector is covered on the disposable biopsy channel.

The endoscope with sheath comprises the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope, a forceps elevator and a controlling wire, an opening is provided on a side of the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope, the forceps elevator is disposed in the foregoing opening, and the forceps elevator is operable via the controlling wire.

An observation window and an optical illumination window are provided on a side of the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope, a light window is provided on a lower side of the end cap at a location corresponding to the locations of the observation window and the optical illumination window on the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope, the transparent liquid being filled in a space between the light window on the end cap and the observation window and optical illumination window on the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope.

An inclined surface is formed at a location connecting an front end face of the end cap and the lower side of the end cap, a recess is formed on the inclined surface, the capsule is disposed in the recess, another inclined surface is provided on a side of a lateral front end surface of the observation window and the optical illumination window on the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope, which is near the lower side of the end cap 2.1, and the capsule is broken by way of a cooperative action of the inclined surface on the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope and the inclined surface with the recess on the end cap.

A boss is provided on an inner wall of a front end of the end cap, a hollow needle is provided on a front end of the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope, the capsule is disposed on the boss and a puncturable by the hollow needle, a through hole is provided at a tail end of the hollow needle, and the transparent liquid flows to the space between the end cap and the plurality of windows on the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope via the through hole. A conical recess is provided on a concentric axis between the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope and the capsule, a blind hole is provided at a bottom of the conical recess, the blind hole is communicated with the through hole, the hollow needle is mounted in the blind hole with its pinpoint facing outside, and the pinpoint of the hollow needle is not higher than a large end surface of the conical recess.

ADVANTAGES AND POSITIVE EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

1. Design to prevent stray light interference, wherein there is a capsule containing transparent fluid, which will become broken under a cooperative action of the end cap and the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope, and the transparent liquid contained in the capsule filling a space between the end cap and the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope, preventing interference from stray light.

2. All contacting surfaces between endoscope and patient are covered by disposable component, to protect endoscope from cross contamination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a display of components of endoscope with sheath.

FIG. 2 is to show operation of endoscope with sheath.

FIG. 3 is to display structures inside of the distal end portion of the shaft of endoscope.

FIG. 4 is to show the assembling of the end cap and the distal end portion of the shaft of endoscope.

FIG. 5 is to show how the capsule get broken during assembling of the end cap and the distal end portion of the shaft of endoscope.

FIG. 6 is to show the finished assembling of the end cap and the distal end portion of the shaft of endoscope after the capsule get broken.

FIG. 7 is to demonstrate the structures before the capsule become broken.

FIG. 8 is to show how capsule got pierced by hollow needle during assembling of the end cap and the distal end portion of the shaft of endoscope.

FIG. 9 is to demonstrate the finished assembling of the end cap and the distal end portion of the shaft of endoscope after the capsule become broken.

FIG. 10 is to display the structures before the capsule is pierced.

FIG. 11 is to display the structure when forceps elevator is relaxed.

FIG. 12 is to display the soft connector and biopsy forceps while the forceps elevator is tensioned.

FIG. 13 is to display how forceps and soft connector coordinate with each other.

1. Endoscope 1.1 The distal end portion of the shaft of endoscope 1.2 Forceps Elevator 1.3 Observation window 1.4 Optical illumination window 1.5 Controlling wire 1.6 Hollow needle 2 Disposable Component 2.1 The end cap 2.2 Capsule 2.3 Air/water channel 2.4 Cuff 2.5 Soft connector 2.6 Disposable biopsy channel 2.7 Lower side 2.8 Recess 2.9 Boss 2.10 Through Hole 3 Biopsy forceps

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1-13, this invention comprises two parts: one is modified endoscope 1, as shown in FIG. 3, wherein there is an elongated slot on the distal end portion 1.1 of the shaft of the endoscope with a forceps elevator 1.2 disposed inside; another part is the disposable component 2, as shown in FIG. 4-13, which covers the endoscope to protect it from being contaminated, including both the cuff 2.4 and the end cap 2.1 covering the out surface, as shown in FIG. 11-12, the disposable biopsy channel 2.6 connecting with the end cap, covering totally the endoscope 1 on both inside and outside. There is the capsule 2.2 filled with transparent liquid being provided in between the end cap 2.1 and the distal end portion 1.1 of the shaft of the endoscope, which will become broken under a cooperative action of the end cap 2.1 and the distal end portion 1.1 of the shaft of the endoscope. After the capsule 2.2 being broken, the transparent liquid contained in the capsule 2.2 will fill the space between the end cap 2.1 and the observation window 1.3 and the optical illumination window 1.4 located in the distal end portion 1.1 of the shaft of the endoscope.

DESCRIPTIONS BASED ON DRAWINGS

As shown in FIG. 4-13, the disposable component 2 comprises the end cap 2.1, the air/water tubes 2.3, the cuff 2.4, soft connector 2.5 and disposable biopsy channel 2.6, wherein the end cap 2.1 is assembled outside of the distal end portion 1.1 of the shaft of endoscope, the end cap 2.1 is made of transparent elastic material. As shown in FIG. 11-12, there is an elongated slot in a shape consistent with the shape of the surgical channel on the distal end portion 1.1 of the shaft of the endoscope, a soft connector 2.5 is disposed in the elongated slot, an outer edge of a large opening of the soft connector 2.5 is sealingly bonded to an inner side of the elongated slot on the end cap 2.1, and a small opening of the soft connector 2.5 is covered on the disposable biopsy channel 2.6. The opening side of the end cap connects with the cuff 2.4, by which the outer surface of the endoscope got covered. Between the cuff 2.4 and the distal end portion 1.1 of the shaft of endoscope, there is air/water channel 2.3 disposed. As shown in FIG. 5, there is the capsule 2.2 filled with transparent liquid being provided in between the end cap 2.1 and the distal end portion 1.1 of the shaft of the endoscope; as shown in FIG. 11-13, the biopsy forceps 3 extends through the disposable biopsy channel 2.6 and the distal end portion 1.1 of the shaft of endoscope, reaching the soft connector 2.5 through the soft connector 2.5.

As shown in FIG. 3-13, the endoscope 1 comprise: the distal end portion 1.1 of the shaft of endoscope, the forceps elevator 1.2 and the controlling wire 1.5. There is an opening provided on a side of the distal end portion 1.1 of the shaft of the endoscope, wherein the forceps elevator 1.2 is disposed in the foregoing opening, and the forceps elevator 1.2 is operable via the controlling wire 1.5. As shown in FIG. 11-13, when the forceps elevator 1.2 and the controlling wire 1.5 are in relaxed status, the forceps elevator 1.2 doesn't interact with the soft connector 2.5, and the biopsy forceps 3 extends obliquely from the soft connector 2.5 via the elongated openings on the end cap 2.1. However, when the controlling wire 1.5 lifts the forceps elevator 1.2, the soft connector 2.5 will be transformed and the disposable biopsy channel 2.6 will also be pushed to lift up across the soft connector 2.5, which indirectly controls the lifting direction of the biopsy forceps 3 for tissue biopsy operation.

In this invention, to improve the light transmission and illumination, the illumination windows are provided on the end cap 2.1, locating at lower side 2.7 which is inferior of the places corresponding to the observation window 1.3 and the illumination window 1.4 on the distal end of endoscope 1.1. The illumination windows are sealed with optical materials, of which the shapes conform with the observation window 1.3 and illumination window 1.4 on the distal end of endoscope 1.1.

In this invention, the capsule containing transparent fluid are placed in different places on the inner wall of the end cap 2.1, which also will become broken due to different ways of co-fraction. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An endoscope with sheath, comprising an endoscope and a disposable component, wherein an inner surface and an outer surface of the endoscope are protected by the disposable component, and the disposable component comprises an end cap that covers a distal end portion of a shaft of the endoscope, characterized by: a plurality of windows being provided on a side of the distal end portion (1.1) of the shaft of the endoscope, capsule (2.2) filled with transparent liquid being provided in between the end cap (2.1) and the distal end portion (1.1) of the shaft of the endoscope, the capsule (2.2) becoming broken under a cooperative action of the end cap (2.1) and the distal end portion (1.1) of the shaft of the endoscope, after the capsule (2.2) being broken, the transparent liquid contained in the capsule (2.2) filling a space between the end cap (2.1) and the plurality of windows located in the distal end portion (1.1) of the shaft of the endoscope.
 2. The endoscope with sheath of claim 1, characterized in that the disposable component (2) comprises the end cap (2.1), a cuff (2.4) and a disposable biopsy channel (2.6), wherein the end cap (2.1) is covered on the distal end portion (1.1) of the shaft of the endoscope, the disposable biopsy channel (2.6) is disposed within the endoscope (1), the cuff (2.4) is disposed outside of the endoscope (1) and the cuff (2.4) is connected to the disposable biopsy channel (2.6) by way of the end cap (2.1).
 3. The endoscope with sheath of claim 2, characterized in that an elongated slot is provided on a side of the end cap (2.1), wherein the elongated slot is in a shape consistent with a shape of a surgical channel on the distal end portion (1.1) of the shaft of the endoscope, a soft connector (2.5) is disposed in the elongated slot, an outer edge of a large opening of the soft connector (2.5) is sealingly bonded to an inner side of the elongated slot on the end cap (2.1), and a small opening of the soft connector (2.5) is covered on the disposable biopsy channel (2.6).
 4. The endoscope with sheath of claim 1, characterized in that the endoscope (1) comprises the distal end portion (1.1) of the shaft of the endoscope, a forceps elevator (1.2) and a controlling wire (1.5), an opening is provided on a side of the distal end portion (1.1) of the shaft of the endoscope, the forceps elevator (1.2) is disposed in the foregoing opening, and the forceps elevator (1.2) is operable via the controlling wire (1.5).
 5. The endoscope with sheath of claim 1, characterized in that an observation window (1.3) and an optical illumination window (1.4) are provided on a side of the distal end portion of the shaft of the endoscope, a light window is provided on a lower side (2.7) of the end cap (2.1) at a location corresponding to the locations of the observation window (1.3) and the optical illumination window (1.4) on the distal end portion (1.1) of the shaft of the endoscope, the transparent liquid being filled in a space between the light window on the end cap (2.1) and the observation window (1.3) and optical illumination window (1.4) on the distal end portion (1.1) of the shaft of the endoscope.
 6. The endoscope with sheath of claim 1, characterized in that an inclined surface is formed at a location connecting an front end face of the end cap (2.1) and the lower side (2.7) of the end cap (2.1), a recess (2.8) is formed on the inclined surface, the capsule (2.2) is disposed in the recess (2.8), another inclined surface is provided on a side of a lateral front end surface of the observation window (1.1) and the optical illumination window (1.4) on the distal end portion (1.1) of the shaft of the endoscope, which is near the lower side (2.7) of the end cap (2.1), and the capsule (2.2) is broken by way of a cooperative action of the inclined surface on the distal end portion (1.1) of the shaft of the endoscope and the inclined surface with the recess (2.8) on the end cap (2.1).
 7. The endoscope with sheath of claim 1, characterized in that a boss (2.9) is provided on an inner wall of a front end of the end cap (2.1), a hollow needle (1.6) is provided on a front end of the distal end portion (1.3) of the shaft of the endoscope, the capsule (2.2) is disposed on the boss (2.9) and a puncturable by the hollow needle (1.6), a through hole (2.10) is provided at a tail end of the hollow needle (1.6), and the transparent liquid flows to the space between the end cap (2.1) and the plurality of windows on the distal end portion (1.1) of the shaft of the endoscope via the through hole (2.10).
 8. The endoscope with sheath of claim 7, characterized in that a conical recess is provided on a concentric axis between the distal end portion (1.1) of the shaft of the endoscope and the capsule (2.2), a blind hole is provided at a bottom of the conical recess, the blind hole is communicated with the through hole (2.10), the hollow needle (1.6) is mounted in the blind hole with its pinpoint facing outside, and the pinpoint of the hollow needle (1.6) is not higher than a large end surface of the conical recess. 